Independent Music Resources, News and Information
Posts tagged Music Business
Directing Fans to Your Website After Shows
Jul 26th
Depending on how your shows are organized, not everyone that attends will be your fan. Some fans may be at the venue for other reasons, bands or may just be passing by. It is important to capture these potential fans and incorporate them your marketing plan, email list or social media friend list. Bringing merchandise such as CDs, T-shirts, autographed pictures, etc. to give away is a great marketing strategy to recruit fans to your website or profile. You should always have some type of giveaway merchandise on hand to motivate your followers. At the very least always have business cards or flyers on hand to send people to your website (even if you’re not playing). Recruiting someone from another band to distribute this merchandise while you are playing can be very helpful; make sure to offer your help during their show as well.
Gathering information about your fans is also important. Hand out slips of paper for them to fill out their contact information so you can record it into your mailing system. Holding drawings and announcing winners during certain points of the show is also a good way to distribute your merchandise effectively while keeping fans active and excited. The information can be very important in the future when marketing. For example, if you know your a fan’s birthday, you can always give them a free song in an email. Don’t forget that record labels care about this information too. Label want to know that you are selling music, but they also want to know who is buying.
Someone should also take pictures of people in the audience. Make sure to acknowledge the photographer throughout the show, whether it is a hired photographer, a friend, or a member from another band, and inform your fans to check in regularly to find their pictures online. Distributing flyers or cards with website information where pictures will be posted is a good reminder. Then, after posting the pictures, send out a mass e-mail to the fans in your mailing system to inform them that the site has been updated with new pictures available.
Using an e-mail signature regularly linking back to your website is a good way to promote your site. This provides immediate and easy access to your website, and you will see an increase in traffic through your signature that is linked in all your out-going mail. Also, email signatures get forwarded with your emails so that as your fans share your messages, the number of people you reach with your link increases. If you are not tracking the traffic to your website already, you should be. Knowing who is visiting and for how long can really help you make better decisions in the future.
Because social media and blogging have become a major form of communication, getting a “new friend” can be just as valuable as an email address. That way, you as the artist can connect with others through social media such as Facebookor Twitter, a great source to post some valuable links and increase traffic to your website. Regularly blogging will then show up on the news feeds and be noticed more by fans and their friends. Sending mass messages is also an effective way to communicate directly with fans and provide links to your site, but usually this requires a group or premium feature.
Encourage fans through e-mails and social media to join your group, page, profile or website in order to receive inside information about the band, upcoming shows, unique opportunities, etc. This way, all of your fans big and small can remain active and constantly be reminded to check out the website regularly for updates. Capturing your current fans (and your future fans) with your web presence should not be overlooked. Think of each connection with your website as a potential relationship with each and every fan and not just a “hit”. How valuable will that relationship be over time to you as an artist?
Greg Gerla
greg@audimated.com
audimated.com
Improve your Singing and Vocal Performance
Jul 26th
Many artists fail to practice their most important instrument; their voice. No matter your age or skill level, building your voice through voice rehearsals can always add some value to your next musical project. Did you know that your Larynx (what allows you to sing), contains five major muscles and two of them specifically create the quality of your voice, such as pitch and tone. They are called the Arytenoid muscle group and the Crico-Thyroid muscle group, and they control two different registers. The lower register, known as the chest voice, is the action of the Arytenoid group. The upper register (Falsetto voice), on the other hand, is handled by the Crico-Thyroid.
There are a few more differences between the upper and lower registers. The lower register tends to produce a heavier sound, while the upper register produces a higher tone commonly associated with females. There is also a big break (or “crack”) between the two registers between the notes E and F and above middle C. The action of these muscle groups is what causes this break to occur, and training to avoid this break is what great singers do to maintain a quality vocal tone and range.
During singing rehearsal, most programs that offer voice lessons train people to change these involuntary muscle actions in order to eliminate this break. The goal is to have the upper and lower registers come together to from one big vocal range. Voice lessons are always helpful, even if you already know how to sing. There is always room for improvement, and practicing, especially with a teacher, will only allow you to enhance your singing abilities, which will ultimately make your music sound better overall. Even the industry’s top signers maintain vocal coaches and practice consistently. Think of your voice like a well tuned athlete. If they don’t practice, exercise and use their bodies every day they will slowly deteriorate. The same applies to your voice. Use it or lose it.
Voice lessons allow you to form new vocal responses, break bad vocal habits, increase your resonance and develop smoother transitions between notes. By training your muscles to work in a different and effective way to improve your singing, you will be able to build endurance and learn to sing without these breaks. Voice rehearsals are importance because since they help the artist’s singing ability and if your lead singer sounds great; your band will sound great. By scheduling regular voice rehearsals or voice lessons, you will notice an improvement in your tone, flexibility to sing at various pitches, better accuracy, balance, and an increase in the range of melodies your are able to sing.
Greg Gerla
greg@audimated.com
audimated.com
Writing Your Band Bio
Jul 24th
Believe it or not, writing a band biography is an important aspect of your career in the music industry. Firstly, your band must understand that the music business is relentless and many times individuals, such as bookers, won’t have time to read your band biography in its entirety.
Taking this into consideration, your band should try their best to start off the biography strong and appealing to readers so that they do not overlook you band biography and maybe even your band entirely! In addition, mention all the band members, as well as explaining your music and sound early in the biography.
Once you have gotten your readers attention, you then want to make them remember your band. Mention a unique or entertaining story that is relevant, as well as using descriptive words that can allow your reader to further visualize and identify your music and band members. Although your band’s biography should be descriptive, keep it brief and limit it to one page, anymore and your readers will most likely not turn the page to read more.
Inclusively, if your band has won any awards or been given significant recognition, such as a mention on a well-known music website, make sure to add this in your bio. Album releases and noteworthy performances are also important to include as this will strengthen your biography, almost like a resume.
Once you are completed your band biography and are happy with the content, make sure to proofread for any spelling and grammatical errors before having it available to venues, bookers, etc. Lastly, as your band continues to perform and gain more experience, make sure to update your band bio regularly. Removing irrelevant information and adding new awards or recognition will make you a top contender in a competitive industry.
This article was written by Nicolette for audimated.com, if you have any further information or recommendations for future articles, please contact Nicolette@audimated.com.
Why Does My Band Need a Manager?
Jul 24th
Being an independent musician does not mean you have to do everything on your own. While it might be tough to consider sharing a piece of your pie, however small that pie might be, having a manager might be exactly what you need. Truthfully, most bands who do not have a manager never make it past their local bar scene. Here are 10 reasons why you should get a manager:
1. It makes you look good. Simply being able to say that you have a manager adds to your credibility automatically. Even according to music industry professionals, if an artist has a manager, they will be taken more seriously because it is clear that the artist has something of value to offer. Many venues and record companies will never even give you a chance if a band approaches them directly and not through a manager. People prefer to speak to someone who is not so emotionally invested in the band.
2. Someone else can take the heat. When things go wrong as they sometimes do, an artist should never need to deal with the problem. If your drummer starts drinking too much and it effects his playing, leave the drama out of the band and have your manager deal with your drunken drummer. If there is a disagreement with a venue, the band never even needs to know about it.
3. Artists should focus of their craft. Staying focused and keeping those creative juices flowing can be tough when you are dealing with booking shows, ordering merch, sending email updates, organizing photo shoots, distributing fliers and maintaining your website. An artists job is to deal with the musical side of the band.A manager can take away some of your stress by dealing with the non-musical side of the music world.
4. Get the big picture. As a band member, it can be hard to take a step back from your personal activities to see what is happening around you. It is a managers job to look at the big picture and see how everything fits together. A manager will help guide you and set you on a realistic path to success.
5. Your own personal cheerleader. One of a managers most important jobs is to talk about how great you are. Nobody wants to hear your brag about what a great guitar player you are, but if it is coming from someone outside of the band they just might listen. A manager will broadcast the message to every club promoter, local retail store, booking agent, record label, music festival and more. It is great to have someone who will advocate for your success.
6. Keep everyone else in check. What should you do when people outside the band do not hold up their end of a bargain? Maybe a sponsor cuts band funding, a sound engineer fails to show up to a show or your screen printer does not get you your new tour shirts on time. Holding people accountable is part of your managers job.
7. Provide a filter. There is no better way to attract the good and scare off the bad than a manager. If someone is trying to pull a fast one on you and they hear that you have a manager, chances are they will not try to pursue you any further. When someone has something legitimate to offer you and they hear you have a manager, they will take you more seriously.
8. Keep up with the ever-changing industry. Things are always changing in the music industry and it can be tough to tell what your next best move is. It can be tempting to sign the first contract that comes your way, but having a level headed manager on your side can prevent you from making big mistakes. What might have been a great record deal last year may be bad for your band today.
9. Business is not your business. Why should you have to try and figure something out that you know nothing about? A baseball team would not send their players out to discuss a new potential sponsorship with a company and neither should a band. An artist is likely to waste more time and money trying to figure out the business side of music than they would spend hiring a manager in the first place!
10. You need all the help you can get. With a good manager who is patient, a self-starter, able to make decisions, organized, able to recognize talent, knowledgeable about the music business and able to take responsibility, think of all of the weight that will be lifted off of your shoulders.
And don’t think of it as sharing a piece of that same small pie you started with. Think of it as your manager bringing you a bigger pie so that, in the end, you all get a bigger slice!
This article was written by Michelle Cohn for Audimated.com, if you have any further information or recommendations for future article, please contact info@audimated.com.
Loyalty in the Entertainment Industry
Jul 23rd
Unfortunately, loyalty from fellow co-workers or other artists in the music industry is a rare trait. Most people involved with entertainment only worry about themselves and will do whatever it takes to be successful, even if that means stomping on other people along the way.
Selfishness is a common trait among people in the entertainment business. Many have the attitude of using people to get to the top, and once they get what they need, they trade up for someone with more power. For example, many artists will hire a manager, but once they become successful, they will sign with a bigger company with more connections. This can become an ongoing cycle, not just with managers, but also with labels, agents, and attorneys. These people focus mainly on moving on to bigger and better things along their road to stardom, not necessarily caring about who gets hurt or discarded in the process.
Entertainers like this are not only selfish, but they also represent a corrupt part of the business. They will each try to convince you that you need to sign with them in order to make it big, when, in reality, they just feed you selective information because the industry is one big system. The label wants you to work with a certain manager who sends them musicians, and the manager recommends you to an attorney, both of whom are friends; in a sense, all are in it to help each other make good money. These “insiders” have power because they work within a close circle of friends
Although musicians can get caught up in the “moving on to bigger and better things” cycle, the people you work with at the start of your career can often be the most reliable. For instance, U2 and Tori Amos have been working with the same managers throughout their careers. They are two successful performers who learned early on that the “bigger” people are just in it for the money most of the time.
Even though not all successful people have a corrupt mentality, a lot have obtained their power through lying and stealing in order to get the clients they have. If you screw someone over, it could go without notice. But if you use two or three people, word could get around. The entertainment business may be a big industry, but your reputation is important. There are many paths you can take toward stardom, and it is possible to be loyal at the same time. You do not want to give others a reason not to sign you.
This article was written by Greg Gerla for Audimated.com, if you have any further information or recommendations for future article, please contact Greg@audimated.com.
Committment: A Vital Skill For Success
Jul 23rd
Everyone wants to be famous: the big house, private jet, garages full of luxury cars, vacations in paradise while reaping those big bucks from music sales. Living like there is no tomorrow, however, actually takes a lot of work. Not everyone is willing to make the necessary commitment to achieve success.
The first and most important step in any career is to give 100% to everything you do. Many musicians actually lack dedication and wonder why their careers have not progressed like they envisioned. Commitment to your future plans is the most essential quality for you to have in order to achieve your goals, both short and long term. The entertainment industry is an unstable and unpredictable business, so it is important to take full advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. You may be gifted with talent, but not fully committing yourself to just one opportunity could result in missed chances for success down the road.
There are various ways that you can fully commit yourself in the music industry. First, follow up on all your leads. Although some encounters may seem insignificant, it is important to follow through regardless. E-mails and phone calls should be answered in a professional and timely manner. Keep records of new contacts for future connections, accept invites to other events in the entertainment industry, and be open to various types of networking. By following through with these types of opportunities, you will expand your music community where you can share ideas and receive advice. You will make many new friends and increase your following.
Second, commitment means showing up to all your scheduled events. Do not forget! There are many musicians who cancel gigs and forget about meetings and auditions. Being flaky is the last quality you want to have as an artist. The entertainment industry may be big, but reputations can spread fast, and you do not want to give employers or record labels a reason to not hire you or a reason to not work with you again. It is important to follow through in order to distinguish yourself from the thousands of other aspiring musicians with whom you are competing.
In addition to showing up to events, it is important to take initiative. If you want to achieve stardom, you have to work for it; do not wait for opportunities to come your way because chances are others will take advantage of them before you do. Become a part of the music community, take classes, and attend workshops to let others know that you want to become involved. By taking the first step, your resources and contacts will multiply– helping you achieve eventual success.
Finally, remember that a job worth doing is a job worth doing well. It is important to portray yourself as not only talented but also professional, efficient, and committed as a musician. Simply showing up is not enough. It is important to impress your fans, along with the entertainment industry, the press, and your fellow musicians to motivate them to stay involved. Give one hundred percent in all of your shows. Be punctual, optimistic and positive.
Entertainment is a risky business, but success is definitely possible as long as you are organized, open minded, and, most importantly, dedicated. You can have all the talent in the world, but if you do not exhibit a strong work ethic and dedication to your chosen profession, you goals may start to seem unattainable. It is you who need to make things happen.
This article was written by Greg Gerla for Audimated.com, if you have any further information or recommendations for future article, please contact Greg@audimated.com.
Join a PRO and Make Double The Money
Jul 22nd
Joining associations such as ASCAP or BMI, organizations that specialize in performance rights of songwriters, is a vital way to preserve your band’s original material. Compare and contrast the benefits of each association and choose the one which is most suitable for your band. Usually these organizations require a membership fee, but are a onetime payment that is made in order to register.
Once you have signed up with one of these “pro” associations sign up as both a songwriter and as a publisher. Additionally, Your copyright for a song is divided in two; among the songwriter and publisher, and each receive 50% of the payment if a “pro” learns that your music has been performed. This means that your band will be doubling their money by signing up as both author and publisher.
Another “pro” your band should consider joining is SoundExchange. This organization is a sound recording performance “pro” designed to obtain performance royalties for your recorded songs. Sound recording rights are different than song rights which are provided by other organizations such as ASCAP or BMI, therefore joining a recording performance “pro” is beneficial to preserve your band’s original material.
Once you have signed up with a sound recording performance “pro”, sign up as both a “featured artist” and a “sound recording copyright owner”. The royalties assigned by these sound recording “pros” are divided between the two and therefore your band’s royalties are doubled if you sign up as both.
Finally, simply joining these “pros” is only the first step and registering each of your band’s recorded tracks and songs is vital. Follow the instructions provided by the service your band decides to use and register appropriately so that the “pro” knows which songs and tracks to link to their surveys and ultimately so that they know who to pay. In this case, if you follow these steps your band will double their earnings with these “pros”.
This article was written by Nicolette for audimated.com, if you have any further information or recommendations for future article, please contact Nicolette@audimated.com.
Online Promotion Widgets and Gadgets
Jul 22nd
Promotion is a great ways to reach out to the public in order to build upon your band’s following. In this day and age, the best way to promote your band is through online websites and social networks. Below are several widgets and gadgets that your group can use as online promotion.
Attendio is a widget that allows performers to release information such as tour dates and CD releases to fans on their websites. In addition, Attendio enables performers to involve specific people to virally spread the word about these announcements.
Eventful Demand is another useful social networking tool utilized not only by musical groups, but by comedians and politicians, to name a few. This service provides fans a means to weigh in on which groups they would like to see come to their area. In addition, performers can inform their followers via Eventful of the cities they will be visiting.
Another gadget is SayNow, a service that delivers voice and text messages to fans in which they are able to call a number in order to obtain information regarding performances, take part in polls and purchase merchandise. These are only a few of the options that SayNow provides to performers to further inform and reach out to their followers.
Frappr! Maps is a free service that your band can utilize in order to further connect with your fan base. Viewers that visit your sites can add their name, a picture and message so that performers can track where their followers are from, who they are, and how often they visit the website. This application is compatible with any kind of website and is ultimately a much more personal method of interacting with the public.
Lastly, Voki is a talking character widget that can visually and verbally represent the band members of your group. This character can also be an animal or imaginary creature, for instance, in which a voice can be recorded or uploaded. This is a unique way to differentiate your band’s image and websites while remaining memorable to your fans.
This article was written by Nicolette for Audimated.com. If you have any further information or recommendations for future articles, please contact Nicolette@audimated.com. www.audimated.com